Tarrant County Marriage License

To get a marriage license in Tarrant County, Texas, both applicants must appear in person at a County Clerk office. Tarrant County is one of the most populous counties in Texas, with multiple clerk office locations throughout the county to serve residents of Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield, and surrounding cities. The clerk issues all marriage licenses under Texas Family Code Chapter 2. No Texas residency is required. Both people must bring valid photo ID and know their Social Security numbers. A 72-hour waiting period applies after the license is issued. The license is valid for 90 days.

Tarrant County Clerk - Marriage License Offices

The Tarrant County Clerk handles all marriage license applications in the county. Unlike smaller counties, Tarrant County has multiple clerk office locations to serve a population of over two million people. The main office is at the Tarrant County Courthouse in downtown Fort Worth. Additional sub-courthouse offices are available in other parts of the county. Each location can process marriage license applications.

Whether you live in Fort Worth, Arlington, Mansfield, or another part of Tarrant County, there is likely a clerk office near you. Check the Tarrant County website for a current list of all office locations, their addresses, and hours. Not all sub-offices have the same hours as the main courthouse, so verifying before you go is a good idea.

The standard marriage license fee in Tarrant County is approximately $82. Couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education program pay a reduced fee of about $22. Tarrant County accepts multiple forms of payment at the clerk's office including cash and check. Check the county website or call ahead to confirm current payment options at the specific location you plan to visit.

Note: If either applicant was divorced within the last 30 days, bring a certified copy of the final divorce decree. Texas law requires a 30-day waiting period after a divorce before a new marriage license can be issued, per Texas Family Code Section 2.009.

The Tarrant County official website has detailed information on all County Clerk locations, hours, services, and how to contact the office in Fort Worth and elsewhere in the county.

Review the county website before your visit to find the nearest office location, confirm current hours, and check for any announcements about closures or changes to the application process.

How to Get a Marriage License in Tarrant County

Both applicants must appear at the same clerk office at the same time. You cannot apply separately. Tarrant County processes thousands of marriage license applications each year. The clerk's offices handle the volume efficiently, but going early in the day or midweek can help avoid longer waits at busy locations like downtown Fort Worth.

Each applicant must bring:

• Valid government-issued photo ID such as a driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID
• Social Security number (you must know it; having the card may help)
• Certified copy of the divorce decree if divorced within the last 30 days
• Court order removing disabilities of minority if either applicant is under 18

No Texas residency is required. You can apply in Tarrant County even if you live in another state. The license is valid for use anywhere in Texas once issued. No blood test is needed. The application form asks for full legal names including maiden surnames, birth dates, birthplaces, and Social Security numbers. Any prior marriages and how they ended must be disclosed. This is required by Texas Family Code Section 2.004.

Tarrant County has a number of sub-courthouse locations in addition to the main courthouse in Fort Worth. If you live closer to Arlington or another part of the county, you may find it more convenient to visit a satellite office. All locations can process marriage license applications under the same rules and at the same fees.

72-Hour Waiting Period and License Fees

After the Tarrant County Clerk issues your marriage license, Texas law requires you to wait 72 hours before the ceremony can take place. This rule comes from Texas Family Code Section 2.204. The wait begins the moment the license is issued. If you get the license at 9 AM on a Monday, you cannot hold the ceremony until 9 AM on Thursday.

Active military members on duty can have the 72-hour wait waived. A judge can issue a written waiver for documented good cause. And couples who complete the Twogether in Texas premarital education program skip the wait automatically and also pay only about $22 instead of the standard $82. The course is eight hours and covers communication, finances, and relationship topics. It can be completed online or in person. Find details at twogetherintexas.com.

The license expires 90 days after it is issued. Do not apply too early. If the ceremony does not happen within 90 days, you must go back to the clerk and apply again, paying the full fee a second time. Most couples in Tarrant County apply one to two weeks before the ceremony date. That covers the 72-hour wait while leaving plenty of time before the license expires.

An informal marriage declaration, sometimes called a common law marriage declaration, is also processed by the Tarrant County Clerk. Both parties must appear together in person. The typical fee is around $42. This creates an official legal record of the informal marriage under Texas law.

Tarrant County Marriage License Records

After the wedding ceremony, the person who performed it must sign the marriage license and return it to the Tarrant County Clerk within 30 days. This is required under Texas Family Code Section 2.206. Once the clerk records it, the marriage becomes part of the official public record. Certified copies can then be ordered for legal purposes such as name changes, benefits enrollment, insurance updates, and immigration filings.

Certified copies from the Tarrant County Clerk cost approximately $21 each. You can request them in person at any clerk location or by mail. Tarrant County processes a large number of certified copy requests each year and has a well-established process for handling them. For statewide marriage record verification going back to 1966, the Texas Department of State Health Services Vital Statistics unit maintains an index and issues verification letters for $20. Those letters confirm a record is on file but are not the same as a certified county copy.

Tarrant County marriage records go back many decades. The clerk's office holds these as part of the permanent county archive. Genealogists and researchers can contact the office to ask about older records. Some historical documents may also be accessible through genealogy databases or microfilm collections at county or public library archives.

Cities in Tarrant County

Tarrant County includes several large cities. Each is served by the Tarrant County Clerk's office. The main office is in Fort Worth, and sub-courthouse offices provide service to other parts of the county.

Nearby Counties

Tarrant County is in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Its neighboring counties also have clerk offices issuing marriage licenses under the same Texas rules.